Capsicum annuum plant named ‘SLP2B322’

ABSTRACT

A new  Capsicum annuum  plant named ‘SLP2B322’ distinguished by its combination of seedless fruits, a glossy and medium-dark red mature fruit colour, fruit diameter of about 3 to 3.5 cm, fruit weight of about 20 to 30 grams, and ability to set fruit under relatively hot conditions.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Capsicum annuum.

Varietal denomination: ‘SLP2B322’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(f) from Netherlands Plant Variety Rights application No. PPS1433, filed Dec. 6, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Capsicum annuum, designated ‘SLP2B322’.

The new C. annuum ‘SLP2B322’ was discovered and selected as a single plant in Gedera, Israel in 2010, from the progeny of a cross between SC09-F4-33-b as the female parent (not patented) and AJ06-F3-378-19 as the male parent (not patented).

The new cultivar was first asexually propagated by root cuttings in Bet Dagan, Israel in February, 2010 and has been asexually propagated since that time by cutting and rooting in Gedera, Israel and Almeria, Spain. The distinctive characteristics of this new C. annuum are stable and reproduce true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

“SLP2B322” is a distinctive variety of C. annuum characterized by the following traits, which have been repeatedly observed and in combination distinguish ‘SLP2B322’ as a new and distinct C. annuum cultivar:

-   -   1. Seedless fruits     -   2. Glossy, medium-dark red mature fruit colour     -   3. Fruit diameter of about 3 to 3.5 cm     -   4. Fruit weight of about 20 to 30 grams.     -   5. Ability to set fruit under relatively hot conditions (e.g.,         30° C. to 35° C. during the day and 25° C. to 30° C. at night).

Essentially all of the fruits of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’ are completely seedless. However, in cases where ‘SLP2B322’ has been grown in the vicinity of a fertile variety, there are occasional fruits with seeds due to cross-pollination by insects transferring pollen from the fertile variety to ‘SLP2B322’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical characteristics of the new cultivar.

FIG. 1 shows plants of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’ growing in a plastic greenhouse in Mivtahime, Israel. This image was taken in December 2012, five and one-half months after planting.

FIG. 2 shows mature fruits of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of C. annuum known as ‘SLP2B322’. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or younger plants. Further, ‘SLP2B322’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colours and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental and cultural conditions. Colour determinations are in accordance with the 2001 Edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. ‘SLP2B322’ is able to set fruit throughout the year when grown in a plastic greenhouse in southern Israel, including under cold (November to March) and hot (April to June) temperatures, although the set is reduced in July and August under these conditions.

A technical description of the variety is provided below in Table 1 based upon observations of 5-month-old plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Gedera, Israel during the Fall season.

TABLE 1 Characteristic Value Short technical description Bush-type plant, indeterminate growth habit, medium internodes, produces seedless fruit, good ability to set in relatively hot conditions Method of reproduction vegetatively propagated Plant: length of stem (between the short-medium: 30 ground and first fruit) (cm) Plant: shortened internodes absent (indeterminate) (in upper part) Plant: number of internodes between none 1st flower and shortened internodes (Varieties with shortened internodes only) Plant: length of internodes (on medium: 5 to 15 primary side shoots)(varieties without shortened internodes) (cm) Plant: anthocyanin coloration of nodes present Stem: Intensity of anthocyanin medium-strong coloration of nodes Stem: hairiness of nodes weak Plant: vigor strong Plant: height (cm) compact: 200 Leaf: length of blade (cm) medium: 17 Leaf: intensity of green colour medium Leaf: shape ovate Leaf: blistering weak Leaf: profile in cross section moderately concave Leaf: glossiness of upper leaf very weak - weak Leaf: Undulation of margin medium Leaf: width of blade (cm) medium: 9 Flower: anthocyanin coloration in absent anther Peduncle: attitude semi-drooping Time of beginning of flowering (1st medium flower on 2nd flowering node) Fruit: colour (before maturity) green Fruit: intensity of colour medium (before maturity) Fruit: anthocyanin coloration absent (before maturity) Fruit: general impression conical Fruit: attitude horizontal Fruit: length (cm) short - medium: 6 to 9 Fruit: diameter (cm) small: 3 to 3.5 Fruit: ratio length-diameter medium: 2.35 Fruit: shape in longitudinal section triangular Fruit: shape in cross section circular (at level of placenta) Fruit: sinuation of pericarp at basal very weak part Fruit: sinuation of pericarp excluding absent or very weak basal part Fruit: texture of surface smooth or very slightly wrinkled Fruit: colour (at maturity) red (RHS 32A, 42A & 43A) Fruit: intensity of colour (at maturity) medium-dark Fruit: glossiness strong Fruit: stalk cavity absent Fruit: depth of stalk cavity very shallow Fruit: shape of apex (PBR) very acute Fruit: depth of interloculary grooves very shallow Fruit: number of locules predominantly two Fruit: thickness of flesh (mm) thin: 2 to 3 Stalk: length (cm) medium: 3.5 to 4.5 Fruit: capsaicin in placenta absent Stalk: thickness (mm) medium: 3 Calyx: aspect non enveloping Seed Absent Time of maturity (from flowering to medium: 60 (summer); 90 (winter) mature fruit) (days) Ripening can be compared with: KAPPY Potato Virus Y pathotype 0 S Potato Virus Y pathotype 1 Unknown Potato Virus Y pathotype 2 Unknown Tobamovirus pathotype P0 S Tobamovirus pathotype P0, P1 S Tobamovirus pathotype P0, P1, P1-2 S Tobamovirus pathotype P0, P1, S P1-2, P1-2-3 Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus S

These and other features and characteristics of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’ are apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2.

Comparisons with Other C. annuum Cultivars

‘SLP2B322’ is most similar to commercial C. annuum cultivar ‘SLP2B131’, which is also a seedless variety. As shown in Table 2, ‘SLP2B322’ can be distinguished from cultivar ‘SLP2B131’ (not patented) at least with respect to fruit diameter, fruit weight, mature fruit colour, and season for fruit setting.

TABLE 2 SLP2B322 has in comparison with: CHARACTERISTIC IN WHICH THE STATE OF DENOM- COMPARISON EXPRESSION INATION OF VARIETY IS OF STATE OF COMPARISON DIFFERENT COMPARISON EXPRESSION VARIETY FROM SLP2B322 VARIETY OF SLB2B322 SLP2B131 Fruit diameter 2-3 cm 3-3.5 cm SLP2B131 Fruit weight 20 to 30 g 10 to 20 g SLP2B131 Mature fruit colour Dark red Medium-dark red (RHS 46A to (RHS 32A, 46B) 42A & 43A*) SLP2B131 Fruit setting season Late (moderate Early (Can set temperatures even in high needed for good temperatures) set) *The mature fruits of ‘SLB2B322’ are very glossy, whereas the color chips in the RHS colour chart are matte, making it more difficult to assign colour chart designations that correspond to the mature fruit colours. The colour of the mature fruits is described as accurately as reasonably possible given this limitation.

A comparison with the antecedent plants, SC09-F4-33-b and AJ06-F3-378-19, is shown below in Table 3. ‘SLP2B322’ can be distinguished from SC09-F4-33-b at least with respect to fruit size and mature fruit colour, and from AJ06-F3-378-19 at least with respect to mature fruit colour.

TABLE 3 SLP2B322 has in comparison with: CHARACTERISTIC IN WHICH THE COMPARISON STATE OF STATE OF VARIETY IS STATE OF EXPRESSION EXPRESSION DIFFERENT EXPRESSION OF OF FROM SLP2B322 OF SLB2B322 SC09-F4-33-b AJ06-F3-378-19 Fruit length (cm) 6 to 9 4 8 Fruit diameter (cm) 3 to 3.5 3.5 3.5 Mature fruit colour Medium-dark red Dark red Orange (RHS 32A, (RHS 46A to (RHS N30A & 42A & 43A) 46B) 28A) 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Capsicum annuum plant named ‘SLP2B322’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 